Injection moulding machine with a machine base

ABSTRACT

An injection molding machine is provided with a multi-piece machine base comprising at least two adjacently positioned components. A stationary mold carrier can be fixed to the one component of the machine base. To obtain an easy assembling which meets the demands during production, the components of the machine base can be connected underneath and in the vertical projection of the stationary mold carrier independently from each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an injection molding machine for processingplastic materials and other plasticisable substances.

2. Description of Related Art

An injection molding machine of this type is known, for example, fromthe Arburg Selecta range. Various components of the machine stand aredisposed beneath the mold closing unit and injection molding unit andare interconnected, for example, for the operation of the machine. Whenthe machine is being set up, however, the two components of the machinebase have to be leveled independently of one another, resulting incertain assembly expenditure. If the appropriate adjustments are notmade, irregularities can be produced when the injection molding machineis being operated and these have a negative influence on the quality ofthe injection molded parts.

AT 381 273 B makes known a machine stand, molded and welded from steelplate blanks. A machine base of this type is certainly a match forstability requirements, however, processing problems arise as themachine increases in size as the machining centers are associated withspecific sizes. Consequently, it is true that adjustment of variouscomponents is not necessary with this type of machine base, however,from a certain size, it is not possible to produce a machine base purelyin this way.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from this state of the art, the object of the presentinvention is to provide an injection molding machine of theabove-mentioned type with a machine base, which is easy to set up andnevertheless fulfils the requirements which exist when the injectionmolding machine is being operated.

This object is achieved through an injection molding machine for theprocessing of plastics materials and plasticisable substances,comprising:

a machine base which, with the machine in the operating condition, hasadjacently positioned first and second components;

an injection molding unit for the plastification and injection moldingof the plasticisable substances, which is disposed above the firstcomponent of the machine base;

a mold closing unit, which is disposed on the second component of themachine base;

a movable mold carrier and a stationary mole carrier having a moldclamping area therebetween; and

an injection mold accommodated in the mold clamping area, the stationarymold carrier being securable to the second component of the machinebase,

wherein the first and second components of the machine base underneathand in a vertical projection of at least a foot of the stationary moldcarrier is connectable to the foot independently of one another.

The machine base has several components, which can be connected to thislatter underneath the stationary mold carrier independently of oneanother. In this way, the stationary mold carrier provides the pointaround which the machine base is to be leveled. The division isespecially advantageous in the case of larger machines as a decision fora larger or smaller joint foot can be made at a later time duringproduction, above all with regard to the injection molding unit. Themachine base can be adapted to the precise requirements of the customerin each case, something which is also visible in the costs of themachine overall. Nevertheless, forces can be introduced in a reliablemanner to where they are required, namely in the transition regionbetween stationary mold carrier and injection molding machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of an exemplifiedembodiment. In which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the injection molding machine,

FIG. 2 is the components of the machine base with the stationary moldcarrier removed to make the interfaces visible, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be explained in more detail as an example withreference to the enclosed drawings. The exemplified embodiments are onlycertainly to be seen as examples and are not to limit the inventiveconcept to one specific arrangement.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an injection molding machine for theprocessing of plastics materials and other plasticisable substances,such as, for example, ceramic or powdery substances. In the standarddesign, the injection molding machine has a mold closing unit F and aninjection molding unit S on a machine base 10. The plasticisablesubstances are plasticised in the injection molding machine S and arethen injected into a central mold cavity of an injection mold 13. Thisinjection mold is accommodated in a mold clamping area R between amovable mold carrier 11 and a stationary mold carrier 12. Theplasticisable substances are plasticised and injected along the axis ofinjection s-s of the injection molding unit S.

The machine base 10, in the operating condition, has at least twoadjacently positioned components 10 a, 10 b. The injection molding unitis disposed above the one component 10 a, whilst the mold closing unitis disposed above the other component 10 b. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the stationary mold carrier 12 can be mounted on the othercomponent 10 b of the machine base. As can be seen in FIG. 2, thecomponents 10 a, 10 b of the machine base 10, underneath and in thevertical projection of at least the foot 12 a of the stationary moldcarrier 12, can be connected to the latter independently of one another.This means that the components can be produced separately andinterconnected during assembly. This connection does not have to be madeuntil later on in the production process, so that the components can beprefabricated, but, nevertheless, the one component 10 a of the machinebase on the injection molding side, in particular, can be adapted to therespective requirements of the customer. As the size of the injectionmolding unit is strongly dependent on which material is being processedand which components have to be produced, its size can vary greatly. Themachine base can easily be adapted to this—even for cost reasons.Through the connection made in the transition region between the twocomponents 10 a, 10 b of the machine base 10, via the stationary moldcarrier, which itself is configured relatively rigidly, a so-calledfulcrum is created, around which the components of the machine base canbe aligned substantially independently of one another.

The connection between the one component 10 a on the injection moldingside and the other component 10 b of the machine base on the moldclosing side, is effected in each case preferably via two centeringelements 14, 15, which are disposed transversely relative to the axis ofinjection s-s. A restriction to only two centering elements in each casehas the advantage that two points determine one straight line, whichmeans that, in conjunction with the stationary mold carrier,consequently, there is a “pivotal axis” for the easier leveling of thetwo machine bases relative one to the other. FIG. 3 shows that thecentering elements 14, for the other component 10 b of the machine basewith the stationary mold carrier via the fastening means 22, and thefastening means 15, for the one component 10 a of the machine base withthe stationary mold carrier 12 through the intermediary of the fasteningmeans 23, are each disposed parallel relative to each other. Inaddition, the straight lines, formed by the centering elements 14, 15,are transverse, preferably at right angles to a vertical plane formed bythe axis of injection s-s.

The manufacturer ensures that leveling around the axes thus formed iseasy. The centering elements 14, 15 themselves are substantially abovethe longitudinal walls 10 c, 10 d of the other component 10 b, whichlongitudinal walls are at a spacing from one another, or respectivelyabove the longitudinal walls 10 e, 10 f of the one component 10 a of themachine base 10. The actual “connecting means” is consequently thestationary mold carrier 12, it only having to be ensured that the twocomponents 10 a, 10 b of the machine base terminate, or respectivelylie, at least within the vertical projection of the foot, orrespectively of the feet 12 a of the stationary mold carrier 12.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the one component 10 a supporting theinjection molding unit S is narrower than the other component 10 bsupporting the mold closing unit F. Bearing bars 16, 17 are provided onthe two components 10 a, 10 b of the machine base for the mounting ofinjection molding unit S and mold closing unit F. Obviously otherbearing bars can also be disposed at suitable positions for the purposesdescribed below. As shown in FIG. 3, the bearing bars 16 of the onecomponent 10 a protrude over this component in the direction of theother component 10 b. The bearing bars 16 of the one component 10 a, inthe operating condition, come to lie between the bearing bars 17 of theother component 10 b in a receiving area 18. As can be seen in FIGS. 1and 2, the one component 10 a is connected with the other component 10 bindirectly via the stationary mold carrier 12 in such a manner that thetwo components are mutually supported in the region of the stationarymold carrier 12 on the feet 19 of the other component 10 b.

The assembly is preferably effected in such a manner that initially onecomponent of the machine base is lined-up and is then connected to thestationary mold carrier 12. The other component of the machine base isthen mounted in this assembly unit, which has, consequently, beenpreliminarily lined up, such that this other component is easily linedup. Therefore, initially the other component 10 b of the machine base isset up, aligned or respectively leveled. The stationary mold carrier 12is then attached to this component. This attachment is effected by thestationary mold carrier 12 being placed with its feet 12 a onto thebearing bars 17. At the same time the connection is made by thefastening means 22 under intermediate action of the centering means.When the centering means are defined in respect of their position, theremaining fastening means 22 are fixed in the bores 17 a. The assemblyunit, created in this way, is consequently set up with regard to theother component 10 b of the machine base. At the same time, between thestationary mold carrier 12 and the other component 10 b, an acceptingarea 18 is formed, into which the bearing bars 16 of the one component10 a of the machine base can be inserted. In order to obtain theconnection at the desired position, the bearing bars 16 also havereceiving areas, which engage in recesses (not shown in the drawing) inthe feet 12 a of the stationary mold carrier 12, for example with thefastening means 23. The one component 10 a of the machine base issecured to the stationary mold carrier 12 via the centering elements 15in connection with the fastening means 23. The disposition on thestationary mold carrier initially produces a rough arrangement of theone component 10 a, as now that the continued movement is effectedaround the axis formed by the centering elements 15, the machine basecan be easily leveled and adjusted. The centering elements, which aredisposed preferably beneath the stationary mold carrier 12 in pairs in aparallel manner and transversely relative to the machine base, lead inthis way to clear axes of displacement, thereby making any furtherleveling of the machine base only necessary in the third dimension. Theinjection molding unit is then built-on until the picture is as in FIG.1.

As the over-all length of the one component 10 a of the machine basevaries depending on the customer's requirements, the center of gravityof the machine also changes in dependence on this machine base. At thesame time, the mold closing unit is relatively heavy when compared withthe injection molding unit. Consequently, the drive motor 20 andpreferably also the pump units 21, driven by the drive motor, of themold closing unit F and also of the injection molding unit S, aredisposed beneath the injection molding unit in the one component 10 a ofthe machine base and are consequently displaced under the injectionmolding unit, which moans that the center of gravity is as central aspossible. The drive motor 20 is suspended between the bearing bars 16 tosimplify assembly. This is effected, as can be seen in FIG. 3, by thebearing bars 16 having recesses 16 b, in which retaining members 24 aresuspended. The drive motor 20 is suspended on those retaining members.FIG. 3 shows that the recesses 16 b are longer than the distance betweenthe two retaining members 24. This makes it possible to hold this partof the bearing bars 16 forward in a standard manner and, where required,to displace the drive motor 20 in the direction of the axis of injectionto adjust the center of gravity.

In principle, the two components of the machine base are interconnectedindirectly via the stationary mold carrier 12 via their bearing barsonly in the region of the stationary mold carrier 12. To convert theunit, for which the aforementioned center of gravity is decisive, it isconsequently necessary to create further connections between the twocomponents 10 a, 10 b of the machine base. Nevertheless, the unit,created in this way, can then be moved as a whole by the customer.

It is obvious that this description can be subject to the most varyingmodifications, changes and adaptations, which vary in the region ofequivalents to the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Injection molding machine for the processing ofplastics materials and plasticisable substances, comprising: a machinebase which, with the machine in an operating condition, has adjacentlypositioned first and second components; an injection molding unit forthe plastification and injection molding of the plasticisablesubstances, which is disposed above the first component of the machinebase; a mold closing unit, which is disposed on the second component ofthe machine base; mold carriers comprising a stationary mold carrier,the mold carriers having a mold clamping area therebetween; and aninjection mold accommodated in the mold clamping area, the stationarymold carrier being securable to the second component of the machinebase, wherein the first and second components of the machine baseunderneath and in a vertical projection of at least a foot of thestationary mold carrier are connectable to the foot independently of oneanother.
 2. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, furthercomprising first and second centering members disposed in pairs parallelrelative to one another and connecting the first and second componentsof the machine base and the stationary mold carrier.
 3. Injectionmolding machine according to claim 2, wherein the first and secondcentering members are disposed transversely relative to an axis ofinjection, are allocated to each of the first and second components ofthe machine base, and are provided substantially above longitudinalwalls of the components of the machine base, the walls spaced from oneanother.
 4. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein thefirst component of the machine base supporting the injection moldingunit is narrower in comparison with the second component supporting themold closing unit and is supported on the second component above thestationary mold carrier via first bearing bars, which project the firstcomponent in the direction of the second component.
 5. Injection moldingmachine according to claim 4, wherein, in the operating condition, thefirst bearing bars of the first component come to rest between thesecond bearing bars of the second component.
 6. Injection moldingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the second component of themachine base is connectable to the stationary mold carrier to form oneassembly unit, a receiving area for introduction of the first componentbeing formed between the stationary mold carrier and the secondcomponent.
 7. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, whereinthe first and second components of the machine base are supported in atransition region on common feet of the second component of the machinebase.
 8. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, furthercomprising a drive motor of mold closing unit and injection molding unitunderneath the injection molding unit in the first component of themachine base.
 9. Injection molding machine according to claim 8, whereinthe drive motor is suspended between bearing bars of the firstcomponent.